F.I.N.D.S.
Focus - Investigate - Note - Develop - Score

FOCUS

Focus on the information need

Ø Plan the experiment or project.

Ø Define terms in a way appropriate for the context.

What is my assignment or the information problem to be solved?

What questions am I raising or addressing?

What types of information do I need to answer the questions?

What keywords and alternate search terms are pertinent to my questions?

How will I organize my search plan?

How many references do I need?

What format will I use to present the results?

What is the Assignment?	Dissect your assignment so you understand its requirements and its purpose.
Determine the Information Requirements	Are you sure you know exactly what you need to do in your assignment? Do you know what information will help?
Define the Research Topic	Getting started with your research means identifying your topic.
Choosing a Topic	Knowing where to look for ideas will help you find an interesting topic.
Learn Something about the Topic	Having a general knowledge about the topic helps to develop questions that you want to address. Background reading will also help you identify key words to use as search terms.
Brainstorming Techniques	Need help focusing the topic? Try brainstorming.
Broadening the Topic	If you don't find enough (or any) information, you might have to broaden your topic.
Narrowing the Topic	If you find way too much information, you might have to narrow your topic.
Having trouble getting started?	Let O.W.L help you ask the right questions.
Framing Your Research Questions	You have a topic, now what was the question??? How to come up with good research questions for your project.
Graphic Organizers	Everything you wanted to know about graphic organizers and how to use them to help with your research and learning.
Keywords and Search Terminology	Don’t start searching until you have a search strategy in mind. This website will help you learn how to build an effective search term to use in catalogs, databases, or on the Internet.
Boolean Machine	Exactly how does a Boolean operator work, anyway? Take a look at this and see!
Ask an Expert	Need help designing a research strategy? Ask a librarian! They love this stuff!

Investigate

Investigate resources

Ø Be open minded.

Ø Judge the credibility of sources.

What criteria should I use to evaluate and select the information sources?

What are some possible sources for the type of information I need?

What are the best sources? Are certain sources required?

What sources will give me diverse points of view? How will I identify their strengths and weaknesses?

Where are the sources located?

Where is the information within the source, and how do I locate it?

Is my search plan working, or do I need to revise it?

SPC Library Catalog	Find books and E-Books through the library catalog.
Evaluating Print Resources	Tips on evaluating resources by reviewing the bibliographic information
Evaluating Print Resource Content	Tips on evaluating the content of print resources
Primary and Secondary Sources	What is a "primary source?" What is a "secondary source?" How do you tell the difference? When should you use each of those?
SPC Library Online Databases	Log-In to SPC’s collection of subscription databases for authoritative information on every topic.
More Resources	Find listings of all journals to which SPC subscribes and access to other library’s materials.
Reference Tools	Search tools, language tools, research tools, financial tools, map tools. Tools, tools and more tools.
SPC Subject Guides	Not sure where to start? Try these subject guides to resources.
Four Nets for Better Searching	Four easy-to-remember tips for finding exactly what you need on the Internet.
Google Help	Tips for Google Advanced Search
Invisible Web Databases	Specialized tools by subject area to help you find things your search engine might not find.
Florida Public and Academic Libraries	Access catalogs of public and academic libraries in Florida.
Research Guides and Tutorials	Feeling overwhelmed? Get help online through SPC’s Research Guides and Tutorials.
Ask A Librarian!	Need help?? Ask a Librarian! Chat, E-mail, or phone an SPC librarian. They are happy to help you.

Note

Note and evaluate facts and ideas to answer the question

Ø Identify conclusions, reasons, and assumptions.

Ø Judge the quality of an argument, including the acceptability of its reasons, assumptions, and evidence.

Ø Ask appropriate clarifying questions.

Ø Try to be well informed.

What criteria should I use to evaluate the information I found?

Have I considered its purpose, question at issue, supporting information, concepts, assumptions, inferences, implications, and point of view? (Paul and Elder, 2006)

Is the information clear, accurate, precise, relevant, logical significant, fair? Does it have depth and breadth? (Paul and Elder, 2006).

How will I determine what information to record?

How do I make notes effectively?

How do I comply with copyright issues?

Have I recorded my source citation information?

Critical Evaluation Resources	Things to Consider When Evaluating Resources
Evaluating Internet Resources	Do you believe everything you read? How gullible are you? Questions to help judge a Website’s authority, objectivity, authenticity, reliability, timeliness, relevance, efficiency. Become an Internet Detective.
Evaluating Quality Checklist	Can you believe everything you read on the Web? Click on each checklist item for an explanation and examples of questionable Web-based information.
10 C's for Evaluating Internet Resources	Content, credibility, critical thinking, copyright, citation, continuity, censorship, connectivity, comparability and context.
Evaluating Print Resources	Did you know you can learn a lot about a book before you read it? Learn to evaluate a resource using bibliographic information.
Summarizing, Paraphrasing & Quoting	Good writers use three strategies—summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting—to blend source materials in with their own, while making sure their own voice is heard. Do you how to use each of these?
Avoiding Plagiarism	Keep yourself out of legal (and teacher) trouble by knowing what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
SPC Academic Honesty Policy	Question (and answers) about copyright and how to respect it.
Note taking	How to take notes and what to do with them.
Note Layouts	Several different ways to take notes. One of them is just right for you.
SPC Citation Guide	Specifics of creating a "works cited" list for your project and links to Citation Machines

Develop

Develop information into knowledge for presentation

Ø Develop and defend a position on an issue

Ø Draw conclusions when warranted, but with caution.

What I have learned? What is my thesis or answer to the question?

How do I organize my notes to support my argument or thesis?

Am I analyzing and using the information effectively?

Am I making conclusions based on research evidence? Does my outline logically organize the evidence and conclusions?

What assumptions and implications am I making?

How should I present the information to best share what I have learned with others?

Do I need to integrate technology to enrich, publish, or present my project?

Let the Writing Begin	O.W.L. tips for getting started
Thesis Builder	Answer these questions to begin to construct a thesis statement for a persuasive essay.
Thesis Statements	How to develop a strong thesis
Develop an Outline	Tips on developing an outline
Organize your Presentation	Here is a graphic you can use to organize your arguments and evidence.
How to Use Evidence	How to incorporate evidence smoothly and cite sources within paragraphs
PowerPoint Presentation Tips	Tips for creating a PowerPoint presentation
How to make a Power Point Presentation	Step by Step guide for making a power point presentation
Instructional Graphics Guidelines	Legibility standards, poster session ideas, effective visual design
Communication Tips	Tips to effective communication and powerful presentations
Computerized Speech Writer	This online interactive gives prompts to help create a speech. Fill in the blanks and edit the results.
How to Give a Talk	Principles of effective talks
Design an Effective Web Page	Tips on style, graphics, images, organization, templates, and more
Downloading Graphics	Tips for downloading digital files to a presentation

Score

Score the product and the process

Scoring the Product:

Have I stated my purpose clearly?

Have I stated the question at issue clearly and precisely?

Have I identified my assumptions and point of view?

Have I been fair-minded in evaluating all points of view?

Have I made unsupported claims?

Is the supporting information clear, accurate, and relevant to the question?

Have I gathered sufficient information?

Are my inferences consistent with each other?

Have I identified assumptions that led to my inferences?

Have I considered the consequences of my conclusions?

Did I present the information in the best manner?

Scoring the Process:

Was the process efficient and effective?

How will I do things better next time?

Scoring Rubrics	Assessment tools used by professors
Scoring Rubrics to Download	Create your own scoring rubric based on your assignment. Download templates for self-evaluation.
Proofreading	Effective strategies for proofing a document
More Proofreading	Editing and proofreading strategies
Editing your Work	Tips for editing your work
Editing Checklist	Score your own presentation! Think about the message, the medium and your audience interaction. How well did you do? What did you learn? Do you have what it takes to get an A?
Revising your Work	Food for thought. Evaluative measures to determine if you need to revise your work.
Need Some Feedback?	When is it a good time to get feedback and from whom?

Adapted from Ennis, R. H. (1993). Critical thinking assessment. Theory Into Practice, 32(3).

Paul, R. & Elder, L. (2006). The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts & tools (4th ed.). Dillon Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking.